Butte semi-weekly miner., 1887-10-15

At their meeting last night the City Couu.
Gil paused the ordinances for the levy Of q
one-mtll tax to be devoted to Ore purposes,
and thus rendered tardy justice to an nm.
selfish body OF citizens who. have hitherto
received anything but the justice to which
they are entitled. Reference is here made
to the volunteer fire department Of Butte.
At the Council meeting on Monday night,
it was resolved to omit the levy of this
one mill tax, which created such general
dissatisfaction that last night they
reconsidered their action and passed
the ordinance. It is understood they
reached the conclusion on Monday night
that the city could get along without the
extra revenue by disposing Of
the dumping carts and going
to no extra expense on account OF
the volunteer fire department. The re-
moval of garbage is none too excellently
attended to with the present force and the
diminution OF the same by one cart, even,
will by no means add to the sanitary con-
dition Of the city. If economy is to be prac-
tised anywhere, the force employed in keep
ing down the accumulation of rubbish in
the streets and alleys and removing slops
should be the last item curtailed.
1t has been a constant and just
subject OF complaint from the members
Ut the volunteer fire companies that they
have not in the past received that attention
at the hands of the Council to which they
claim to be entitled. The unselfsh sacIi-
foo NJ paroopo I co,,,so.k vh;oh <ha ,nor,h,.o
OF the companies have displayed in the
past and stand at all times ready to rem
der in the future calls for the most liberal
treatment, liberalitv which no citizen
will refuse to bear his proportion of
without murmur. They stand ready at
any and all hours to answer the call of
alarm and have never flinched from en-
any danger in the prosecution |
Of their seli-imposed duties. In return for |
this they assert that they have never hither. |
to received fair treatment. When they have
gone before the City Council in the past. |
they maintain they have been treated with |
neglect instesd OF the consideration to |
v hich they are entitled. II they were to re-
sign in q body how could their services be
replaced except at a heavy expense to the
,ity? The Council could impose no tax
For fire purposes that would not be gladly
paid by the citizens who are conscious
Of the immense debt of obligation
hey are under to the guardians OF their
'afety from the fire fend. The members of
;he Council need stand in fear OF no censure
rom any constituent, therefore, for the i'm.
position OF the extra mill tax for fire pur-
POSES. which they have passed an ordi.
lance for to be devoted to the
reeds OF the volunteer fire department
md the maintenance Of all the dump carts
hey at present have in use. It would be
he falsest OF false economy to neglect the
wants of the gallant men who
ave saved so much valuable property to
he city at such trifling expense. They do
lot ask for handsome quarters or elabo-
ately expensive machines. All they ask is
hat the machinery they handle shall be
properly housed, kept in thorough condi-
ion for immediate use, taken care of
after use, cleaned and
'laced in condition for use
gain, and any deficiencies there is
ecessity for supplied as soon as
iscovered. This is a trife compared with t;
he expense for which the city would have !,
o make provision were the present body |.
volunteer firemen to resign as they have !,
lany times lately been heard to express a |
trong intention OF doing. The members of .
he Council have relieved themselves from /,
be odium with which their parsimonious !;
ction OF Monday night is generally regard
in directing the City Clerk to draw the
rdinance by which the special one-mill tax
} To be voted upon.